Apparatus for enabling automatic feed for a press with one-stamping die

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for enabling automatic material feed for a press with one-stamping die for regenerating superannuated such type of press, comprising feed rollers connected to the material feeding side and the discharging side, respectively, of the press with a one-stamping die, said feed rollers being rotated by their own power sources, a punch mounted on the side of the feeding side as viewed from the center of a die for forming dents at intervals of one pitch from the leading end of the material, a pitch determining device provided on the discharge side and arranged to check and detain at first the leading end of the material and successively each one of said dents, a ram which as it descends, operates said punch and releases said pitch determining device from the detaining position, and a control means which, upon completion of each of the successive material positioning, detects it by the signal from said pitch determining means and issues an instruction to actuate said punch.

Tagami [111 3,854,359 Dec. 17, 197 4 1 APPARATUS FOR ENABLING AUTOMATIC FEED FOR A PRESS WITH ONE-STAMPING DIE [75] Inventor: Shuji Tagami, Uozu, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 7, 1972 Japan 47-57164 June 15, 1972 Japan 47-60210 Mar. 18, 1972 Japan 47-33035[U] 52 u.s.c1...; 83/212, 83/33, 83/255, 83/268, 83/371, 83/405, 83/406 [51 1m. 0 B26f 1/12 [58] Field 61 Search 83/212,211,210, 268, 83/267, 255, 371, 406, 405, 419, 467 A, 33

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS England.... 83/268 Marsh 83/371 Wood 83/33 v 9/1971. Timmerbeil 83/33 Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Attorney, Agent, or FirmKarl W. Flocks 5 7 ABSTRACT An apparatus for enabling automatic material feed for a press with one-stamping die for regenerating superannuated such type of press, comprising feed rollers connected to the material feeding side and the discharging side, respectively, of the press with a onestamping die, said feed rollers being rotated by their own power sources, a punch mounted on the side of the feeding side as viewed from the center of a die for forming dents at intervals of one pitch from the leading end of the material, a pitch determining device provided on the discharge side and arranged to check and detain at first the leading end of the material and successively each one of said dents, a ram which as it descends, operates said punch and releases said pitch determining device from the detaining position, and a control means which, upon completion of each of the successive material positioning, detects it by the signal from said pitch determining means and issues an instruction to actuate said punchl 2 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures v. ,1 fi l P j e 4 u e f e Archer 83/33 PATENIELBEEIHBM 3, 854,35

sum 10F 5 PATENTEL DEC] 7 I974 sum 30F FIG.6

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automatic feed effectuating device that can be mounted on a press with a onestamping die having no feed mechanism, with no need of remodeling such press, so that could be obtained a system for enabling automatic progressive operations of a series of such presses with one-stamping dies.

As is well known, a press with a one-stamping die is the most simple in construction among all types of presses and is also very easy to handle and operate, so it is popularly used in minor enterprises. However, such press with a one-stamping die is usually of a so-called one-press-one-work system, that is, it is merely able to perform only one work operation, such as punching,

bending or drawing, at each operation, so that no workpiece nor material feeding means is provided and hence feeding of material depends entirely on human hands. Therefore, for producing an article which requires a number of working operations by using such press or presses with one stamping dies, there is no alternative 2 made for developing an automatic feeding system that can be immediately adapted in such press with a onestamping die to realize automatic and progressive operations at a low cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above, the present invention proposes a novel apparatus for allowing adaptation of superannuated one-stamping die presses to'a mass-production system by providing a punch for forming dents, with descent of a ram in the material or workpiece, a pitch determining means arranged to engage and detain the one-stamping die for regenerating such superannuated press with a one-stamping die, comprising feed rollers mounted on said press at the material feed and discharge sides, respectively, of a press with a oneseparately from each other and operated individually,

charge'side andv arranged to check and detain at first,

' .the leading end of the material and successively each technique because accuracy of finishing is greatly affected by such positioning. On the other hand, according to the latter method, although the required work operations can be all accomplished with a single set of presses, there is a need to exchange the dies upon completion of each work operation, so that the operations are prolonged and complicated, and further, since the positioning of the worked material for a next work operation requires'high skill as in the case of the former method, the working efficiency is further lowered than in the former method.

Manufacture of articles requiring a number of working operations may be accomplished relatively easily by employing a press originally equipped with a feed mechanism allowing progressive operations one after the other, instead of using a press or presses with onestarnping dies but such feeder-incorporated 'press is very expensive and further, since the feed mechanism is constructed such that itis powered by the power source of the press itself so that both areoperated in cooperation with-each other, a highly skilled technique is required for synchronizing the vertical movement of the ram and the feed, and moreover, even if such synchronization could be achieved properly, there still remains the unsolved problem of possible lag in timing or slippage at starting and stoppage of the feed mechal'llSlTl.

It is to be noted that even the existing presses with one stamping dies can be used for the above-said purposes if an appropriate feeding apparatus applicable to such presses-is made. In fact, many studies have been of said dents to stop'the material feed, a ram adapted such that its descent will operate said punch and release said pitch determining means from its checked or detained condition, and a control means-which detects abling automatic feed of material with a press with a one-stamping die or a series of such presses is composed essentially of the feed rollers rotated by their own power sources without utilizing the power source of the press itself, apunch operated with descent of a ram, a pitch determining means, and a control means detecting completion of the material positioning and issuing an instruction of operation to said ram, so that the apparatus can be easily adapted in any type of press, with no need of remodeling, irrespective of some dimensional or configurational difference of presses by different makers, and further, since such device can be freely located at any position conforming to the pitch of the workpiece, the timing of material feed and ram movement can be adjusted correctly with extreme ease unlike the system where driving power (for such material feed and ram movement) is obtained from the power source of the press. Still further, since the mate-v rial to be worked is supplied by the feed rollers which are constantly rotated regardless of the operation of the press, the material can be properly fed in until it is stopped and detained by the pitch determining means, and also, as the rollers continue their slipping rotation in the direction of delivery even while the pitch of the material has been determined, there is no possibility that the supply of material will become too short or too excessive, thus allowing accurate transfer of material from end to end of the system. Consequently, it becomes possible to perform high precision working that could never be achieved with the existing presses installed with one-stamping dies, and also, since a press with a one-stamping die which has been used until now can be promptly turned into an automatic press by merely adopting the device .of the present invention, with no need of purchasing a costly automatic feederincorporated press, it is possible to modernize the superannuated presses at a very small outlay. Further, as

transfer of material is performed entirely by the feeding mechanism, such operation can be accomplished with safety and at high efficiency. Such automatic operations will be further promoted if a short or long material feeder means is provided contiguous to the system in front of the feed rollers.

It should be also noted that if several sets of presses each installed with a one-stamping die automated by the device of the present invention are used in combination with transfer plates disposed between such presses for transferring the material or workpiece from the first to second working stage and from the second to third working stage to thereby allow progressive working operations, there can be obtained excellent workability and productivity that can well compare with those of a press designed originally for progressive operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are a schematic plane and front views, respectively, showing an embodiment of the present invention adapted to enable a press with a one stamping die to perform automatic progressive operations.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a press, with the die removed, in which another embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention is adapted.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are plane views illustrating the operations according to the apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the pitch determining means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a lever member of the pitch determining means of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a punch constructed as an individual unit for forming dents.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Now, the present invention is described in detail by way of some preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 .and 2 where a first embodiment of the present invention is shown, it will be noted that a punch 3 for forming dents d along one edge e of a material or workpiece a with descent of a ram C is provided at a place located one pitch (P) closer toward the feed side of said press. Disposed at the discharge side of said press is a pitch determining means 4 which may engage and at first detain the leading end b of said material a and successively each of the cut-out portions I f of dents d. On both feed and discharge sides of said press A are provided feed rollers l and 2, respectively, which are rotated by their own power sources. Also provided in connection to said pitch determining means 4 is a control means which detects completion of the positioning of the material a and issues an operating instruction to the ram C. The punch 3 is constructed either integral with the ram C or in the form of a separate side cutter unit as shown in FIG. 8 and is arranged such that dents d will be formed at a place one pitch P away from the leading end b of the material a and successive places of said one-pitch intervals with descending movement of the ram C. The pitch determining means 4 engaged against the leading end b of the material a or the side edge e of a dent d is released from the detaining conditionwith descent of the ram C and is again engaged against the edge e of the next dent d formed one pitch behind from the preceding dent.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, feed rollers 11, discharge rollers 12, a pitch determining means 14 and a side cutter 13 are provided on an existing press with one stamping die A. Said pitch determining means 14 is adapted to engage each of punched liolesfin the material a. Said side cutter 13 on the feed side of the press is adapted to operate with descent of the ram C to successively form stepped shoulder portions along the edge c of the material a, each of said successive shoulder portions being formed at intervals of one pitch P but cut away in turn at the next punching operation. The numeral 50 indicates a switch means which engages successively each of said shoulder portions as the material advanced to detain the material so that said switch means may actuate the ram C and side cutter I3. Therefore, in this embodiment. said pitch determining means 14 and said switch means 50 are simultaneously operated with said ram C. The feed and discharge rollers 11 and 12 mounted on the material feed and discharge sides, respectively, of the press A are both composed of a pair of rollers supported in pressed contact, against the material a and constantly rotated by an associated power means 10 regardless of the operation of the press. The pitch determining means 14 comprises a block 40 designed such that a lever 42 engaged in a punched holefin the discharged material a is supported thereby through a drum-shaped through hole 43 formed in the middle of said lever and is urged such that the fore end 42 thereof will be engaged in said punched hole f. Also, a tension spring 41 is connected to the rear end 42" of said lever so that when the ram C descends to depress the rear end 42" of the lever, allowing its force end 42' to disengage from the punched hole f, the thus disengaged fore end 42' will be caused to swing in the direction opposite to the direction of transfer of the material. A detector means 15 is connected with said switch 50 adapted to operate the ram C upon detecting said eut-out shoulder portion in the material a formed by said cutter l3, and also connected with a limit switch 51 adapted such that when the lever 42 of the pitch determining means 14 depressed by the ram C is engaged in the next punched hole f and reset therein, said limit switch will detect it and operate the ram C accordingly.

For automating every press with a one-stamping die and assembling such presses to constitute a progressive operational system by using either of the aforesaid embodiments of the present invention, such system can be easily formed by merely arranging said presses in operating order and connecting a preceding press A to a succeeding press A with a transfer plate 6 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Since the pitch determining for the second and succeeding presses can be accomplished by utilizing the dents d or punched holes f formed by the first press A, there is no need of providing a punch 3 in the second and succeeding presses.

As described above, the feed automating device according to the present invention is constituted from feed rollers 1 and 2 or 11 and 12 connected to both sides of a press with a one-stamping die A so that a material to be worked a will be constantly fed in one direction, a pitch determining means 4 mounted on the discharge side of the die B, a punch 3 provided at a place one pitch P closer to the feed side from said means 4 for forming dents d, and a control means issuing an instruction of operation to the ram C when the positioning of the material a has been completed by said pitch determining means 4, with all of these means being operatively related to one another to allow automatic successive feed of material. Therefore, according to the present device, the material or workpiece a is continuously delivered from the feed side to the discharge side by the feed rollers l, 2 which are constantly rotated independently from the operation of the ram C, and when the leading end b of the material a is detained by the pitch determining means 4 and its correct positioning is accomplished, such is detected by the control means to actuate the ram C to perform desired working on the material a and at the same time a dent d is formed at a place one pitch closer toward the feed side from the leading end b of the material a. When the ram C descends, the pitch determining means 4, which has been held against the leading end b of the material a, is disengaged from said leading end b and released. Consequently, feeding of the material a is again started by the feed rollers l, 2 which have been constantly rotated by their own power, such feeding being continued until the edge portion e in the dent d formed one pitch behind from the leading end b is caught by the pitch determining means 4 and the positioning is accomplished thereby. In this way, the pitch determining means 4 is engaged in the edge e of every dent d which is formed upon every working operation of the ram C and thereby the positioning is accomplished, each of these positionings being detected by the control means to operate the ram C. This process is repeated to perform the progressive working operations successively.

In case of adapting the latter embodiment of the present invention in a press with a one-stampingdie A for automation of the feed system, the material a delivered from the feed side toward the discharge side by the rollers 11, 12 is transferred until either its leading end b or each of the stepped shoulder portions formed at the distance of one pitch P intervals from said leading end b is caught and detained by the switch 50 of the detecdetermining means 4 in the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, thatis, when the ram C descends to depress the rear part 42" of the lever 42, its fore end 42' is removed out of the punched hole fin the discharged material a, and at the same time as said removal, the fore end 42 is forced to swing oppositely to the direction of transfer of the material a by the action of spring 41 and is fitted in the next punched holefin the material a carried on by the constantly rotating rollers 11, 12. The lever 42, while kept fitted in said punched hole f, is forced back by the material a until it is caught, by the block 40 of thestopper, whereupon transfer of the material a is stopped by said pitch determining means 14 or said switch means 50 and at the same time the limit switch 51 of the detector means 15 is operated to actuate the ram C so as to resume working on the material According to the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the pitch determining means 14 may. be located at any desired section on the press regardless of'the pitch without loss of material which might be caused if no press work should be applied to the same length of the leading portionv of the hoop material.

punching means to form dents along an edge of the I material fed to the press with descent of said ram,

said punching means being disposed at the material feed side of said die,

a pitch determining means disposed at the discharge side of said die and arranged to be engaged or held against either the leading end of the material or an edge spaced at one pitch intervals but released from the engaged or held condition simultaneously with the descent of said ram,

a control means to detect completion of each material positioning for punching work and issue an operating instructionto said ram, i

and feed rollers provided on both feed and discharge sides of the press and powered by their own power sources.

2. An apparatus for automating feed in a press with a one-stamping die in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a side cutter means operated with the descent of said ram to cut the side edge portion of the material away for making a stepped shoulder which is to be formed successively at a one-pitch interval from the preceding one, said side cutter means being mounted at the material feed side of said die on the press;

a switch means to engage said shoulderportion for detaining the material to detect the completion of the material positioning; 1

and a detector means provided in connection to said pitch determining means and said switch means to detect completion of the positioning of the material and issue an operating instruction to said ram;

said pitch determining means being arranged at the discharge side of said dieto engage each of successive punched-out holesin the material and freed from said engaging condition with the descent of 

1. An apparatus for automating feed in a press having a ram and a one-stamping die comprising punching means to form dents along an edge of the material fed to the press with descent of said ram, said punching means being disposed at the material feed side of said die, a pitch determining means disposed at the discharge side of said die and arranged to be engaged or held against either the leading end of the material or an edge spaced at one pitch intervals but released from the engaged or held condition simultaneously with the descent of said ram, a control means to detect completion of each material positioning for punching work and issue an operating instruction to said ram, and feed rollers provided on both feed and discharge sides of the press and powered by their own power sources.
 2. An apparatus for automating feed in a press with a one-stamping die in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a side cutter means operated with the descent of said ram to cut the side edge portion of the material away for making a stepped shoulder which is to be formed successively at a one-pitch interval from the preceding one, said side cutter means being mounted at the material feed side of said die on the press; a switch means to engage said shoulder portion for detaining the material to detect the completion of the material positioning; and a detector means provided in connection to said pitch determining means and said switch means to detect completion of the positioning of the material and issue an operating instruction to said ram; said pitch determining means being arranged at the discharge side of said die to engage each of successive punched-out holes in the material and freed from said engaging condition with the descent of said ram. 